National Cattlemen's Beef Association President Kevin Kester issued the following statement in response to the release of the 2018 Farm Bill text in the U.S. House of Representatives:

"We're pleased to see the House Agriculture Committee's language for the 2018 Farm Bill. and we're ready to see the bill move forward.

"We appreciate the Committee authorizing the Foot and Mouth Disease vaccine bank, which is vitally important to the safety of our industry. However, we were hopeful for full funding levels, which this bill does not provide in years two through five. We'll
continue fighting to secure that funding through all possible avenues.

"We're also happy to see the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) bolstered in this bill, as well as funding for research, foreign market development, and market access programs.

"We will continue to work with the Committee to get this bill onto the House floor as quickly as possible."